Matteo Berrettini surprised Novak Djokovic with a 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory within the Qatar Open first spherical on Tuesday, incomes his first win over the previous world No. 1.
The Italian delivered a dominant efficiency, ousting the two-time champion in 1 hour, 35 minutes, and securing his first top-10 victory since January 2023.
“This is something I’ve been chasing,” stated Berrettini, a former world No. 6 who had misplaced all 4 of his earlier conferences with Djokovic.
“I’ve played him on the biggest stages, had the honor and pleasure of facing him. I wish I had won one of those matches too.”
World No. 35 Berrettini, final 12 months’s ATP Comeback Player of the Year, will face Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor within the subsequent spherical.
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion aiming for his one hundredth ATP title, was enjoying his first singles match since retiring from the Australian Open semifinals because of a hamstring harm.
The 37-year-old, who final week stated he was “almost fully recovered,” had not misplaced a first-round match since his 2022 Monte Carlo Masters defeat to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
“I didn’t have any pain or discomfort in that sense. I was outplayed by just a better player today,” Djokovic stated.
“I wasn’t at my desired stage, and it might be that I’m nonetheless not transferring the way in which I wish to transfer, however I performed with out ache, so there isn’t any excuse in that.
“Things are not the same as 10, 15 years ago. I still try to take care of my body on a daily basis, and it’s more challenging now, no doubt. I still try to do my very best, given the circumstances.”
Djokovic now turns his consideration to the doubles occasion, pairing with Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in opposition to Finland’s Harri Heliovaara and Britain’s Henry Patten within the quarterfinals.
Source: www.dailysabah.com